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Mayor and Council Meeting - A. MAX BACON CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS — Minutes

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September 22, 2025 
7:00 PM 
 
City of Smyrna 
Mayor and Council Meeting 
2800 King Street SE 
Council Chambers 
 
   Page 2 of 10 
6.  Proclamations and Presentations 
 
 A. PRC2025-025 Proclamation in recognition of the 75th Anniversary of Vickery 
Hardware 
Ward 3 Councilmember - Travis Lindley 
 
Councilmember Sitting Chair Travis Lindley read and presented the following 
proclamation: 
  
A PROCLAMATION 
By the Mayor of the City of Smyrna 
In Recognition of 75 Years – Vickery Hardware 
  
Whereas, Vickery Hardware has been a Smyrna Landmark for 75 years, known for its 
tradition of friendly, courteous customer service; and 
Whereas, in 1950, Thomas Vickery purchased Howard Hardware on Atlanta Street, 
renamed it Vickery Hardware, and relocated to what is now Dickson Shopping Center 
on South Cobb Drive. In 1966, he sold the store to Hugh Hutchings; and 
Whereas, Mr. Hutchings, with unmatched work ethic, poured his time and energy into 
making the store a community staple. In 1974, he joined the Ace Hardware dealer 
cooperative becoming only the 577th store in the country to do so; and 
Whereas, after eight years in the Dickson Shopping Center, the store moved in 1974 
to its current Concord Road location due to the widening of South Cobb Drive 
– expanding from 5,000 square feet to over 10,000 square feet and staying open at 
both locations during the transition; and 
Whereas, Vickery Hardware continued to thrive despite competition from big box 
stores, thanks to strong community support. After Mr. Hutchings passed away in 2003, 
the store was left to Ms. Susan Harlan, who had worked there since 1975; and 
Whereas, under Ms. Harlan’s leadership since 2003, the store has received numerous 
honors, including Best of Atlanta (2009), BHMA Best Hardware Store in 
Georgia (2010), Best of Cobb (2020, 2023, 2025), and a top-five national ranking in 
the Independent We Stand awards (2014). It has built a reputation across Smyrna and 
the metro area for knowledgeable service and reliability; and 
Whereas, Vickery Hardware has long served as a community hub – sponsoring a 
Little Free Library, countless Smyrna Garden Tours, gold hoes, baseball teams, 
Smyrna’s first mural, and a Campbell High School art show, just to name a few. With 
deep local loyalty, it has thrived as a hometown favorite in an era of big box retail, 
proudly called Smyrna home for 75 years; NOW, 
 Therefore, I, Derek Norton, Mayor of the City of Smyrna, do hereby proclaim 
September 22, 2025, as a day of recognition for Vickery Hardware, and urge all 
citizens to join in celebrating this momentous occasion.  
 
 B. PRC2025-031 Proclamation in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month 
Citywide 
 
Councilmember Latonia P. Hines read and presented the English version of the 
following proclamation: 
  
A PROCLAMATION 
By the Mayor of the City of Smyrna 
In Recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month